City of Newcastle to undertake water heating upgrades at Wallsend and Mayfield Swimming Centres

The City of Newcastle has announced water heating upgrades for its Wallsend and Mayfield Swimming Centres with 30 kilowatts of rooftop solar panels and heat pumps to be installed at both facilities to regulate water temperatures to around 25 degrees.

Advising that the Council is committed to maintaining and investing in our local swimming pools to ensure the community members, sporting clubs and visitors can continue to enjoy the highly valued recreational facilities each year, City of Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes commented “Newcastle’s aquatic facilities play an important role in our community and City of Newcastle is committed to investing in quality upgrades to our local pools.

“Our inland swimming centres are utilised 30 weeks per year, from the start of the September school holidays through to the end of the April school holidays, and enhance the lives of community members, sporting clubs and visitors that enjoy our facilities for sporting and leisure, active living and social connection.”

Explaining that the council is committed to using renewable energy for its inland pool operations, working to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 as part of the City’s adopted Climate Action Plan, Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen added “currently, the pool heating systems at Wallsend and Mayfield Swimming Centres are ageing and ineffective, which impacts the way patrons utilise our facilities throughout the season.

“City of Newcastle is investing $400,000 in pool heating upgrades as part of projects approved in this year’s budget. Rooftop solar panels generate electricity, which support the power needs of the heat pump, as well as supply additional power to the facility’s energy needs, with any excess energy returning back to the grid.”

The installation of rooftop solar panels and heat pumps at Wallsend and Mayfield Swimming Centres are scheduled for completion before they reopen in September.

City of Newcastle remains committed to providing high quality aquatic facilities at Lambton, Wallsend, Beresfield, Mayfield and Stockton.

The City continues to advocate to the NSW Government for funding for a year-round aquatic facility, requesting a funding commitment to match the significant pool announcements made elsewhere in NSW in recent weeks.

Image: Blue Fit staff members Emma Preece and Hannah Richardson, Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen, Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, regular Mayfield Swimming Centre user Leanne Sanderson and City of Newcastle Acting Executive Manager Community and Recreation Donna McGovern celebrate the announcement of heating upgrades at the Mayfield and Wallsend pools. Credit: City of Newcastle.